Calvary Christian Church

Ministry Team

Mark Byers Senior Pastor

Pastor Mark has been the Senior Pastor of Calvary Christian Church since November of 1983. He serves as Calvary’s principal preaching and teaching pastor laboring faithfully in the local church to produce the generational transfer of God’s kingdom message and truths. He works closely with the pastoral staff and church elders to establish sound, Biblical doctrine and convictions. Through his leadership he continues to set the spiritual vision and aim for the entire ministry. His scriptural teaching is presented daily in southeastern Michigan through the radio ministry of Kingdom Living. He was born in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania and grew up in Detroit, Michigan where he graduated from McKenzie High School. He attended Elim Bible Institute in Lima, New York and was ordained in 1979. (Read More)(Close)

Pastor Mark and his wife, Sharon were married 46 years, and have five children and twenty grandchildren.

Mark Byers was born the youngest child of six to Foster and Harriet Byers in 1950 in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania. The Byers family moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1953 due to the economic recession in the Pittsburgh area. As a young child Mark accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior, and was taught by his Christian family to love, to seek, and to obey the Lord. He attended Detroit’s Parker Elementary and McKenzie High School and graduated in 1967.

At fifteen years old, during a time of personal devotions, the Lord called him to the ministry. Within a few weeks that call was confirmed in a morning worship service at his local church. A guest speaker from South Africa, named Hymie Rubenstein, was speaking, and stopped during his message to state, “I can’t go on ministering until I obey the Lord and declare what He has told me to say”. Identifying and pointing directly to Mark sitting in the congregation, Hymie said, “Young man, you’re going to be a preacher of the gospel.”

In January of 1967, Mark and some of his friends attended special meetings at Calvary Temple Church (now Calvary Christian Church) where an evangelist named Harold Davis was ministering. During one of those meetings Brother Davis laid hands on him and he was baptized in the Holy Spirit. Later, Brother Davis made a special point to introduce him to Pastor Al DiMusto’s daughter, Sharon. Mark and Sharon were drawn to each other and began to date, and were married on August 23, 1969.

Mark and Sharon prepared for the ministry by attending Elim Bible Institute in Lima, New York. They chose this Bible school because it focused its training on sound Biblical doctrine and lead their students into God’s Presence through worship with the objective of intimacy with the heavenly Father. While attending Elim they were privileged to sit under guest ministries such as Judson Cornwall, David Wilkerson, and Bob Mumford. After graduating from Elim, Mark and Sharon became the youth pastors at Calvary under Pastor DiMusto, and in 1971 David, their first child, was born. Mark sensed his need for life experience, and the Lord led him into the construction business in 1972. He remained in that line of work until 1977, ultimately earning a Michigan Residential Builders license. Their family continued to grow with Jared, Rachel, and Aaron all being born during this time in business.

In 1977 Mark and Sharon were invited to assume the pastorate of a church in Depauville, New York, and Mark was ordained in 1979 by Elim Fellowship of Lima, New York. As an experienced builder he led the church through a number of major remodeling projects along with his pastoral duties during his tenure in Depauville. In 1983 Pastor Mark and Sharon were asked to return to Calvary to receive the senior pastorate. They accepted that position on November 14, 1983, and their fifth child, Justin, was born one month after arriving in Royal Oak. The church facility was in necessity of much repair, and Pastor Mark’s building experience was again needed. Over a twenty-seven year span he has guided the congregation through the remodeling of every room in the church building, the complete remodeling of the church parsonage, and built a personal home in Troy, Michigan.

Through forty years of ministry Pastor Mark has placed an emphasis on teaching the Bible clearly and accurately, and has taught in various Bible schools in different states and other countries. Not only has his ministry been highlighted by his God given ability to teach, he has produced a strong vision for missions in his local church. The Lord greatly increased Calvary’s outreach in 2000 when the leadership of Calvary was distinctly directed by the Lord to begin a daily half hour radio program called Kingdom Living. The Lord has continued to bless Pastor Mark’s messages and the radio broadcasts, and his teachings are now heard throughout southeastern Michigan, southwestern Ontario in Canada, and throughout the world at OnePlace.com.

Sharon Byers

Mark and Sharon Byers were married for 46 years and Sharon complimented Mark in the ministry with her talent as a pianist and organist. She especially enjoyed playing her piano at home and worshiping the Lord. Sharon composed many songs and choruses birthed out of her own life experiences that are sung by the congregation at Calvary and many churches around the world. Her chorus, “May My Life Be a Praise to His Glory”, was the vision for her life, and the theme song of Kingdom Living. (Read More)(Close)

Sharon Ladonn Byers was carried home on angels’ wings into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in her sleep during the early morning hours on Wednesday, October 7, 2015.

Born on September 18, 1949 into a ministerial family, Sharon’s parents, Alfonso and Donna DiMusto, were evangelists holding revival meetings throughout the Midwestern states in the 1950s. They were called the Musical DiMustos as he played the trombone, and she played the organ, piano and accordion. Al and Donna both sang and Sharon and her sister, Rachel, made up a trio with their mother. In 1960 the DiMustos’ took the pastorate of Calvary Temple Church in Royal Oak (now Calvary Christian Church). Sharon graduated from Dondero High School in 1967 and then attended Elim Bible College in New York. At a very young age, she realized that there was no more important Kingdom task to be pursued and fulfilled than to train up the next generation in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and to carefully cultivate a sincere love and devotion to Jesus Christ in the hearts of her family.

Sharon married the love of her life, Mark Davis Byers, on August 23, 1969. She learned early on to practice the presence of Jesus in her life and home, with the aim of impacting her children so that they would one day become polished shafts in the quiver of the Lord, ready to be used to advance His Kingdom in these last days. God granted her heart’s desire and gave Sharon and Mark five children; filling their home with four sons and a daughter. Sharon and Mark spent 46 blessed years together making a home and building a Kingdom life of holiness. She was, and always will be Mark’s “dear sweetheart.”

She served faithfully in many roles; but the most meaningful and those that brought her the greatest joy were as a committed wife, loving mother, doting grandmother, gifted pianist, church organist, and passionate songwriter. Each of her 20 grandchildren received a most precious gift at their birth – a personal song written just for them by their grandmother. Though she never promoted herself as a photographer, it was one of her hidden talents. Photo albums and scrap-booking were a favorite hobby. Family gatherings and holidays were her most cherished events of the entire year.

Worshiping the Lord, singing to Him, and intercession were embedded in the deepest parts of her heart. Anyone dropping by the house would often find Sharon worshiping at her ebony piano, singing, and playing choruses and hymns. Throughout the years, the Lord birthed 41 worship songs in her heart.

Sharon always remembered and reached out to people with handwritten cards, phone calls, and her famous “soup ministry.” It’s been said, “If you lovingly remember others … they will never forget you!”Sharon Ladonn Byers, you will never be forgotten, because your endless deposits of love are forever in our hearts.We will always love and honor you!

Sharon’s life truly was A Praise to His Glory!!

Songs Sharon Byers has left with us…

Blessed Is The Man

Bring Back The Ark

Cast Out The Enemy

Choose Thou For Me

For It’s Only Going To Be

For Thy Name’s Sake

He Holds Victory In Store

Holy And Awesome Is Your Name

I Have The Victory

I Will Bless The Lord

I Will Come Into Your Presence, O My Lord

I Will Declare His Name

I Will Love You, Lord

In The Midst Of The Storm

Let Israel Rejoice

Let My Heart Be Lifted Up In Thee

Let The Sound Of Victory

Let Us Behold You, Lord

Let Us Offer The Sacrifice Of Praise

Let Us Run The Race

Lord, I Build You An Altar

Lord, Make Me A Worshiper

Lord, You Are My God And King

Lord, We Usher In Your Presence

Lord, You Reign And You Rule

Majesty On High

May My Life Be A Praise

May My Prayer

Mighty, Mighty Blood

O For Your Precious Anointing, Lord

O Give Thanks Unto The Lord

O Hallelujah To The Great “I Am”

Sing The Song Of The Lord

Stand Still And See The Salvation

Strengthen The Feeble Hands

The Captain Of The Lord Of Hosts

We Will Lift Up Our Banners

You Are God And You Change Not

You Are So Worthy

Zion Shall Bring Forth

Any contributions in memory of Sharon Byers may be given to Calvary Christian Church and will be used exclusively for “The Rose of Sharon Missions Ministry” in the Philippines.

David Byers

Executive Pastor

Pastor David was invited to join Calvary’s staff as the Minister of Worship in 1994 and over the last 21 years has worn many different hats and served in various positions. Currently, as executive pastor his role in the day to day oversight of the church operations includes: overseeing church staff to manage all church activities and office responsibilities, weekly service organization, planning the preaching and worship schedules, organizing weekly pastoral meetings, pastoral care and counseling for church members, as well as direct involvement and oversight of most of Calvary’s ministries – from sound and lighting, the worship ministry, to fellowship and children’s ministries. (Read More)(Close)

Other executive tasks consist of the supervision of all remodeling projects, building improvements and maintenance, Kingdom Living administration, and providing and managing all office and church technical support and website content.

David has loved music since early childhood and continues to function as the director of Calvary’s worship ministry. He oversees the praise and worship services and song leaders, and also directs Calvary’s Worship Choir, praise team, the church orchestra, special service music, and Calvary Christian School’s music program. He designed and built Sanctuary Studio where he continues to write and arrange music for the various worship ministries, as well as records and produces soundtracks for Calvary’s quartet, choir, and all music and sound effects for CCS concerts and Christmas programs.

David is Mark and Sharon Byers’ firstborn, and was raised watching his parents love the Lord with all their hearts, and serve the body of Christ with their love and lives. He was born again at an early age, and filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit at nine years old while attending summer youth camp. As a young child he was drawn to music and worship, and has studied piano and trumpet, and played in school bands, and church orchestras for thirty years. Following his senior year of high school, he was directed by the Lord to prepare for full time ministry and moved to Guatemala, Central America to attend Hebron Ministerial Institute and study Spanish. In 1991, during Bible school, he met his wife Ronda and they were married in June of 1992. In 1994, following some time working in the construction trade, David was invited by the pastoral staff of Calvary to join the church staff as the Minister of Worship. He accepted the position with clear direction from the Lord. In a desire to be faithful to that calling,

David began to further his formal study of music. He studied voice privately with voice professor Jan Albright of Oakland University, and gained invaluable choral experience while singing for several seasons with the Detroit Oratorio Society. Soon after, the Lord opened the door for him to be mentored in music arranging, orchestration, and recording by film composer, arranger, conductor and performing artist Terry Herald (www.terryheral.com), and their friendship remains a significant part of David’s life and work to this day. He has been actively involved in extensive study and defense of sacred music, and delivered a fourteen hour apologetic series on the subject called “Fresh Fire or Strange Fire?”

In the summer of 2006 he was ordained by Calvary Christian Ministries and became the executive pastor of Calvary Christian Church. When time permits, he finds great joy in composing praise and worship songs, and writing arrangements and orchestrations for the church choir, praise team, and orchestra. His recording projects through Calvary’s recording facility, Sanctuary Studio, include: Lord, We Usher in Your Presence (choral), Do You Believe in Miracles (Hebron trio), When I See Jesus (John Stutzman – solo), Tell Me the Story (Gospel Quartet), and many dozens of sacred and seasonal soundtracks, as well as tracks and sound effects for children’s musicals. The delight of his life is spending time with Ronda, his wife of 23 years, and his four precious children.

Ronda Byers

Administrative Assistant

When you call or visit Calvary Christian Ministries, you will most likely be welcomed to our ministries by Ronda Byers, the wife of Pastor David Byers. Working as the Administrative Secretary for our church and Kingdom Living radio broadcast since April 2012, she has learned to wear many hats so that everything runs smoothly. Answering phones and doors, supporting the church staff, filling and shipping Kingdom Living orders, email notifications, and publishing weekly bulletins, are just a few of the many responsibilities that she fulfills each week.

Robert Steenbergh

Administrative Pastor

Pastor Bob joined the staff of Calvary Christian Church in September, 1994 and has been a faithful pillar of the ministry team ever since. While serving in many roles as the administrative pastor, he is indispensable in the organization and oversight of various ministries at Calvary including the ushers and greeters, outreach to shut-ins, a food pantry for the needy, shuttle bus ministry, core groups and other scheduling. (Read More)(Close)

He and his wife, Kris, serve as the Singles and Youth Group leaders, and stay on the go with many monthly and yearly activities and events, get-togethers, and fundraisers. The Steenbergh family’s hospitality is an example to all, and their home has become a favorite gathering place for the youth and singles.

His ministerial duties include speaking to the youth during Wednesday service, participating in Calvary’s preaching and song leading rotation, pastoral care and counseling for individuals and families, and responding to the many letters, emails, and phone calls from Kingdom Living listeners.

Bob was born and raised in Royal Oak, Michigan. He became a Christian on October 14, 1986, as a senior at Central Michigan University. He moved back to Royal Oak and continued his education at Wayne State University, and it was during this time that he began attending Calvary Christian Church. Upon graduating in 1989 from Wayne State with a master’s degree in school and community psychology, he began working in a local school district and hospital as a psychologist. He married his wife Kris in September of 1989, and they quickly became involved with the children’s ministries of Calvary as volunteers. Bob accepted the invitation to join the staff of Calvary in September of 1994 and serve as the minister of education supervising Calvary Christian School and the church operated day care.

Throughout the years Pastor Bob has been the Sunday school superintendent, youth, and singles leader, a fill in volunteer wherever there was a need, and currently serves as the secretary to the Board of Trustees at Calvary. He was ordained as a pastor by Calvary Christian Ministries in 2006, and joined the pastoral staff as the church’s administrative pastor. He and his wife Kris have three adult children.

Lois Byers

Radio Producer

Lois has been part of the Kingdom Living production team since almost the beginning, back in 2000.

Starting as an editor, she has grown with the ministry and now is responsible for all production facets related to the radio programs: editing, mixing and mastering, preparation and transfer of programming, and radio schedule maintenance.

We consider it a great benefit to have her as part of our staff, and any person who has been blessed by listening to Kingdom Living has been touched because of her work.

Rachel Fisher

Director of Finances

Currently serving as the Director of Finances, Rachel Fisher has held several positions during her fifteen years of employment at Calvary Christian Ministries. She first served as the office secretary and then as Director of Operations before taking off ten years to start a family and raise her young children. She attends Calvary Christian Church with her husband Scott, who serves on the board of elders and in other ministry functions, and their four children. Rachel also serves as the main organist and a substitute pianist for Calvary’s worship services.